Bringing People to the Banquet Table with Fr. Vincent Pizzuto

Father Vincent Pizzuto, PhD, is a professor of New Testament and Christian Mysticism in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at the (Jesuit) University of San Francisco. Committed to linking ancient Christian tradition with contemporary faith, his courses explore the relationship between historical-critical exegesis, Christian mysticism, and theology both ancient and modern.In addition to his professorship, Fr. Vincent is an Episcopal priest who serves as vicar of St. Columba’s Episcopal Church and Retreat House in Inverness, California, where he founded a Christian Contemplative Center dedicated to the advancement of contemplative Christianity. Since his arrival in 2017, the St. Columba’s community has grown exponentially and now offers a series of programs, both in-person and online, to enrich participants’ spiritual lives and contemplative practice.Fr. Vincent has published and presented internationally for a variety of churches, theological societies, and other organizations. His book Contemplating Christ: The Gospels and the Interior Life, published by Liturgical Press, appeared in a Spanish translation in 2022 and will be published in Chinese later this year. His current research explores near-death experiences in dialogue with medical science, philosophy of mind, epistemology, and theology.In this episode, we speak with Fr. Vincent about the origins of his spiritual journey and discernment of the distinction between “contemplative” and “monastic” vocations, his vision for St. Columba’s as a kind of “contemplative leaven” for the larger church, and the links between the Eucharistic liturgy and the Christian approach to social justice. Along the way, we explore the importance of learning “how to maneuver in the landscape of Scripture,” consider the image of the body of Christ as a means of integrating our various ministries and vocations, and find in the concept of “catholicity” a framework for thinking with, and about, the universal church.See also:St. Columba’s Episcopal Church and Retreat HouseContemplating Christ: The Gospels and the Interior Life The Crucifixion: Understanding the Death of Jesus Christ by Fleming Rutledge“This Retreat Center Brings Monasticism to the Entire Church,” U.S. Catholic profile of St. Columba’s by Michael Centore, November 2025 Get full access to Tomorrow's American Catholic at www.tomorrowsamericancatholic.org/subscribe